Biological and Water Quality Study of Symmes Creek, Indian Guyan Creek and Direct Ohio River Tributaries, 2016 Jackson, Gallia and Lawrence Counties, Ohio Symmes Creek at Symmes Creek Road CR 56 (RM 56.8) Ohio EPA Technical Report AMS/2016-SYMME-2 Division of Surface Water Assessment and Modeling Section June 2020 (Revised July 28, 2020) AMS/2016-SYMME-2 Biological and Water Quality Study of Symmes Creek, Indian Guyan Creek June 2020 And Direct Ohio River Tributaries, 2016. Biological and Water Quality Study of Symmes Creek, Indian Guyan Creek and Direct Ohio River Tributaries, 2016 Jackson, Gallia and Lawrence counties, Ohio June 2020 Ohio EPA Report DSW/AMS 2016-SYMME-2 Prepared by: State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Surface Water Lazarus Government Center 50 West Town Street, Suite 700 P.O. Box 1049 Columbus, Ohio 43216‐1049 Division of Surface Water Southeast District Office 2195 East Front Street Logan, Ohio 43138 Ecological Assessment Section Groveport Field Office 4675 Homer Ohio Lane Groveport, Ohio 43125 Mike DeWine, Governor State of Ohio Laurie A. Stevenson, Director Ohio Environmental Protection Agency AMS/2016-SYMME-2 Biological and Water Quality Study of Symmes Creek, Indian Guyan Creek June 2020 And Direct Ohio River Tributaries, 2016. Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Components of an Ohio EPA Biological and Water Quality Survey ......................................................................................................... 13 What is a Biological and Water Quality Survey? ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Hierarchy of Indicators .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Ohio Water Quality Standards: Designated Aquatic Life Use ................................................................................................................ 15 Ohio Water Quality Standards: Non-Aquatic Life Uses ............................................................................................................................ 16 Mechanisms for Water Quality Impairment ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Habitat and Flow Alterations ......................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Siltation and Sedimentation ........................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Nutrient Enrichment ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Organic Enrichment and Low Dissolved Oxygen .................................................................................................................................. 19 Ammonia ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Metals ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Bacteria .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Sediment Contamination ................................................................................................................................................................................. 21 Materials and Methods ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Determining Use Attainment Status ........................................................................................................................................................... 22 Habitat Assessment ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Sediment and Surface Water Assessment ................................................................................................................................................ 22 Recreation Use Assessment ............................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Macroinvertebrate Community Assessment .......................................................................................................................................... 23 Fish Community Assessment ......................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Causal Associations ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Watershed Overview .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Study Area Description ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Location and Scope .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Ecoregions, Geology, and Soils ............................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Land Cover and Land Use ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Census Data ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 39 Wastewater Discharge Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Mineral Extraction .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Iron Furnaces .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 42 Results ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 44 Water Chemistry ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44 Sediment ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Stream Physical Habitat ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 61 Fish Community ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 78 Macroinvertebrate Community .......................................................................................................................................................................... 91 Aquatic Life Use Discussion ............................................................................................................................................................................... 107 Symmes Creek .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 108 Indian